September 1, 1991: Harry, after a quick goodbye, boarded the train. Having arrived an hour earlier, the train had plenty of compartments open. Finding an empty one in the back, Harry stows his trunk with Hedwig's empty cage inside it on the rack. Removing Emerald from his inner robe pocket, he places her on the opposite seat. Locking the door, he wards it with a locking charm and notice-me-not charm. Pulling a History, the Dark Arts out, he puts a glamour charm on it and begins to read it to occupy himself.
Hours Later: Over the intercom, "10 Minutes until we arrive at Hogsmeade. Leave your luggage; they will be taken care of by staff."
Putting his book away, Harry changes into his uniform, grabs Emerald, and puts her in his robe's inner pocket where she falls asleep. Thinking to himself, I'm glad Hedwig went ahead.
Stepping onto the platform, Harry hears his parents associate Hagrid hollering for the first years. Walking over, he spots his brother already with the Weasley endless-pit and Nervous-bottom. Avoiding them, he hangs back and has the unfortunate success of listening to some chit spouting random facts.
After everyone was gathered, Hagrid led the first years to the lake, and hollered "four te' a bout!"
Walking to one of the farthest boats, Harry had got in and is soon joined by two boys and a girl.
The girl had short black hair and was pug-faced. The boy sitting across from him was dark-skinned and tall. While the boy next to him had sandy brown hair, he was tall and thin.
The girl sitting her full height nodded to him, "Hello, I'm Pansy Parkinson. This is," waving to the boy next to her, "Blaise Zabini," the boy nodded, "and-"
"I'm Theo." The boy next to him interrupted.
Harry nodded, "I'm Harry Potter."
Parkinson looked gobsmacked, Zabini regarded him with a grimace and Theo.."Another Potter. So we've got a spoiled lion."
"I believe your mistaken me for James, golden boy extraordinaire, the embodiment of lions." Harry drawled.
"Is that so, potter." Spat Parkinson.
Narrowing his eyes, "So it seems, Parkinson."
After that, the three ignored him and murmured to each other. Several minutes later, they arrive at the dock. Hagrid leads them to double doors that he knocks on. The doors open to a regal, stern woman, whose hair was in a tight bun, and wore emerald robes.
"Her' yer' firs' years." Hagrid nods to the group.
"Thank you, Hagrid; I will take them from here." Hagrid nods and leaves, turning her attention to the group, "follow me."
The group followed the stern, no-nonsense woman to standing before two large doors; on the other side, there were loud sounds of laughter and an overall delight. Turning around, she addressed the first years.
"Welcome to Hogwarts; I am deputy headmistress and transfiguration Professor Mcgonagall. In a few minutes, you will enter through these doors into the great hall, and there you will be sorted. We have four houses; Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. These will be your home for the next seven years; they will be your family away from family. Your actions will reflect onto your house, points loss, points gained. Now, wait here, and I will see if they are ready to receive you. Do smarten up before I return; I wouldn't want to embarrass yourselves." Turning around, she leaves through the doors.
Standing back from the majority, Harry watches as everyone interacts. Including a blonde boy, who must've been the Malfoy heir, approach his brother. Unable to hear, Harry turns his attention to everyone else, even spotting the bushy-haired girl, who was still spouting random facts to whoever would listen.
Must be a muggle-born, he thought.
Soon Mcgonagall returned and had them file into two lines and bid them follow her.
The great hall was beautiful, especially the ceiling with hundreds of candles and the night sky. Harry looked from there to the four tables, locating each house's place, and then turned his attention to Mcgonagall and the hat.
"When I call your name," she began, "you will come up here, sit, and I will place the hat on your head. Now, Hannah Abbott."
The girl had long blonde hair and seemed a tad bit timid. The hat shouted Hufflepuff.
Deciding that his time would be better spent observing the teachers, Harry ignored the sorting. Looking at the table, he quickly spots his mother, Muggle Studies Professor, and the headmaster.
Next to the headmaster was a pale man, in all black; he had obsidian eyes and black hair. Severus Snape, Harry recalled. His mother has a false bottom in one of her desk drawers at home with photos of her and him.
Next to Professor Snape was a man wearing a turban. He seemed to be giddy or nervous. After that, the man was a very short man, with glasses. Half-goblin? Harry wondered; he recalled his mother once mentioning a short professor. It was something like Fillick, Filler?
Harry couldn't remember the name after the short man was a plump woman who just radiated warmth and comfort. Harry did not like her. Next to her was a woman wearing a typical matron outfit, Madame Pomfrey. Then finishing this side of the table was a woman with long brown hair that was frizzy and wore glasses that made her eyes look far too large. She must be the divination professor, the only one who looks crazy enough to believe that hogwash.
Turning to the other side, he noticed an empty chair, must be for the deputy after that was his mother. He barely glanced at her, and then there was a ghost who must've been Binns. After him was a woman with long black hair, she wore an open burgundy robe and looked like a black dress underneath. She was adamantly talking to another who seemed to be one limb away from having no job. Then last was Hagrid, who was just as adamant with the conversation.
Hearing the name potter Harry looks up to see his brother sit. After a short few seconds the hat shouts, "Gryffindor!" The Gryffindor table tore out into shouts, whistling, and good cheer. The weasley twins were even shouting, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
Harry, knowing he was next could feel his heart clench and his stomach turn, but non the less he squared his shoulders and held his head high.
"Harry Potter."
The whole hall broke into rushed murmuring. Some were outright staring, while others craned their necks to see him.
As he walked by he could hear what some were saying.
"Another Potter?"
"Are they cousins?"
"They can't be cousins! Look! They have to be twins."
"I thought all Potter men wore glasses!"
"Adoption maybe?"
Harry sat down on the stool, and for a brief moment, could see the sea of faces just blatantly staring, then darkness descended upon his eyes.
Well, well, what do we have here. Hmm, a brilliant mind, but such a thirst to outdo your blood. My oh my, what ambition you have, and a sharp mind to match!
Thank you, Harry thought.
I know just where to send you... "Slytherin!!" The hat yelled.
The hall went deathly silent; he caught a glance of his mother; she looked livid. His housemates barely glanced at him. Harry, for once in his life, wished he was like his brother. Just. This. Once.